Recent content by coalfield

yes, but the panels are not matched... I have 8x390 Watt + 2x 360 Watt so didn't want to mix, they are also on different parts of the roof so to mix the strings would be a bit of a nightmare :(

I have a foxcloud F3600 inverter which requires a VOC per PV Line (it allows 2 lines) of 80 ~ 550V. One string I have is 8 panels giving plenty of voltage to operate, however my second string has a VOC of 40V per panel (80V in series), but in reality it gives just short of the 80V minimum to...

@shiloh.sharps thanks for sharing this, making me want to open mine up to check which version I have. Were they easy to get into? Mine are the Mazava ones which has me concerned however they have been running over 2 years without any issues I have just left them to get on with it. Not noticed...

Yes they are connected 24/7, but note they only balance when there is a voltage differential between the batteries, otherwise they are essentially in standby. I am no expert either, but there will be other criteria the balancing would usually happen between a specific voltage range, but are...

Yes been running faultlessly, set it an forget it. Voltages are remaining in check and very happy with these

wow amazing responses @FilterGuy !!! Makes perfect sense. I do actually have an RCD on the inverter input, since it comes from the main fusebox with both an MCB and and RCD. That said am keen to avoid nuisance trips, and also don't like the idea of current passing through earth This is...

I just mean what's the advantage of connecting the utility earth to the invertor earth, sine it would trip either way. Also it prevents bypass from working?

Have learnt a lot about grounding and earths over the last couple of days. It makes total sense about the earth and neutral bond now but know the way i was thinking in #13 it totally off. I always through that earth was used to 'dissipate' energy (in the ground), however now see that its...

@FilterGuy makes perfect sense. I have no idea why the manual is so blasé about this. There is so much more than meets the eye and there is no mention on this bond! I have gone ahead and added the bond as per this diagram: My socket tester is now showing a correct ground!! Also the RCD...

Is this what I should be doing? i.e. ignore the utility, but connect the Earth and Negative into the AC output breaker... This way any grounding fault will draw a high current over the earth wire and trip the breaker? Also connecting a earthing rod as an additional layer of protection...

Neutral to Ground is giving me ~100V AC. The output however is 230V AC?

I truly appreciate you investigating.... I am 99% sure my system is the TN-C-S System. There are 2 incoming conductors coming in, and then there is a 100A breaker from which point it splits out the Earth (see this video @ 25s in) The inverter has 2 modes, a bypass mode (as per the above), and...

The resistance is 5-10M Ohm so no bond, this is at the AC output of the inverter. Yes I am 99% sure this will be in place for the AC input Wired directly into a plug socket. There is no bond in place there.

The concept of bonding totally messes with my limited knowledge.... So I get this right... is the reason that the bond between ground and neutral does not just short the whole system, because the resistance of the ground is high compared with the circuit, but lower than going through your body...

Thanks I tried connecting the AC input ground + the AC output ground to the inverter but the test plug I have is giving a ground error. Testing it on the AC input it works fine so its not liking that for whatever reason :( Is it OK to use a grounding rod for lightning dissipation just for the...